St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-26
THE INDEMNITY LANDS.
A Big Rash to Secure Them in
Hubbard COunty-The Benefits
and Hardships That Will Re
SnIf

Hubbard County-The Benefits
and Hardships That Will Re
suit.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Ever since the order promulgated
effect that. pursuant TO notice from
Land Commissioner Sparks. Northern
Pacific indemnity lands would be
thrown open to settlement, deep inter
est has been manifested here. Now
that Nov. =. the day set for receiving
filings in this tthe St. Cloud land dis
trict has passed. and filings can now be
made on all Northern Pacific lands here
abOutS. the interest has deepened into
an excitement which each day in
tenSitfes. 1t is but natural,
as Park Rapids is sit
uated in the southern extremity of the
last ten-mile indemnity belt. This is
the portion which the government land
officials deem certain to be taken from
the railroad cOmpany-Or, better stated,
no longer allowed to be controlled by
corporation who never had legal or
moral claim to the land. 1t is in this
"laSt ten-mile belt that public interest
centers. Never before has any ques-
ton been OF SO universal interest to the
people of Hubbard county. 1t affects
every fireside and each individual. The
excitement is something approaching
that in mining district when ''rich
Lead has been struck: and, for the
same reaSOn-the pos Sibility of sudden
and unlOoked-fOr wealth. For, within
this last ten-mile area, are situated not
only fine agricultural lands,
But MANY OF THE ODD SECTIONS
which have been held by the Northern
Pacific company are covered with choice
forests OF pine, many quarter sections
having from 1,O00,000 TO 4,000,00n feet of
Norway and white pine standing upon
them. This means to the pre-emptOr or
homesteader from $1,000 to 5000. after
final proof is made A snug little sum
for not over years residence on the
land-prOYiding the land is promptly
restored. With this knowledge the
rush to the woods forth, by those
living here and at the other
points Oh the praiTies, the past week
has been steady. and some of the chOic-
est pieces have been secured. Improve
mentS have been began and filings sent
in To ST Cloud. The number of stran-
gers settling on the land is also Surpris-
ing. If this land is proved up Oh it
means added wealth and many new
residents for Hubbard county. But
there is another phase of the matter
which is not so pleasant. On these
she'll prairieS are probably 1900 people.
Many are hOmeSteaderS, but there are
scores OF residents who purchased, in
nocently and in good faith. acres of the
Northern Pacific Railroad company.
These acres they paid from 500
to 3 for. They have warranty
deeds from the company for them.
They have, in many instances, all the
la r,ndnF.
cultivation, with impTOv ementS worth
hundreds of dollars. Now comes MIR.
Sparks and says they can still retain 100
acres of land if they have not used their
presumption or homestead. If they have
they must look for redress from the
railroad cOmpany-the government can
do nothing for them. If this ruling is
sustained, some of our wOrthiest citizens
-men who came kare six and seven
years ago, and
HAVE HELPED IN ALL WAYS
to develop the cOunty-Will lose heavily.
If outsiders are allowed to come i'll and
Jump" these improved farms it will be
poor way to increase the loyalty of the
sturdy yeOmanry of the Northwest to-
ward a government which takes away
''VeSted rights which the holders sup
posed themselves possessed of. For
seven years plats of this country, when
sent for by those desiring to make set
Element, have been received from tie
st. Cloud land office, with the odd see
tons marked Northern Pacific railroad
land" Was the settler to blame for
taking the government at its own word
and purchasing of the Northern Pacific
company? Another result Of such action
will be suits for recovery of moneys paid
as taxes to Hubbard county by parties
whose title to their land is Initiated.
This will result in much veXatiOn and
expense to the country. The sentiment
here is decidedly in favor of restoring
all lands to the public domain not sold
by the Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany. At the same time it is considered
oppressive if the government does not,
in some way, protect innocent purchaS-
erS The situation is a peculiar one.
Whatever the outcome for the few who
may suffer, the general result will be
highly beneficial to this section of cOun-
try and to the administration, providing
it redeemS It's promise and speedily
settles this question, throwing open all
the unoccupied land to the public
domain. If not, it means the maddest
set of white men who ever attempted
settlement on Uncle Sans farm and
boomerang for the Democratic party.
HENRY r. CORB.
Park RanidS Mimi Nov %